AN anonymous benefactor has donated $2 million to one of Queensland’s oldest “profit-for-purpose” charities.

MontroseAccess received the money to build a Gold Coast Respite Centre to help meet the growing demand for services in the region.

A site at Labrador has been chosen and it is hoped the Centre, which will cost an estimated total of $3.4 Million, will open in late 2015.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER THIS ADVERTISEMENT

To date the generous donor has pledged a total of $3.3 Million to help provide respite services for young Queenslanders with physical disabilities.

The largest donation in the organisation’s 81-year history, the funds will support the land purchase, design and construction of two new, modern “home-away-from-home” Respite Centres in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Respite Centres, which will cost more than $6 Million combined, are essential to servicing the needs of approximately 600 children and young adults from throughout Queensland who utilise therapy and other services provided mostly free of charge by MontroseAccess.

MontroseAccess President Paul Bird said the generous support of the benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, had made the new centres a reality.

“We are absolutely delighted that this person stepped forward when our need for both these projects was made known,” Mr Bird said.

“A Respite Centre is a critical facility that MontroseAccess provides for client care and enables children and young adults to spend time with their mates in a safe, secure and professionally overseen environment with 24/7 care available.

“It also means parents and carers can have time out to re-charge and fulfil other responsibilities; respite can be a vital part of keeping the family together and managing disability and all its challenges,” Mr Bird said.

“These two projects represent the best that our great, vibrant civil society here in Queensland is capable of, where community organisations like MontroseAccess come together with their supporters and sponsors, with the tangible action of our philanthropists and the active encouragement of Government, to make a difference in the lives of those members of our society who are most deserving of support – children with physical disabilities,” Mr Bird said.

“A civil society is one in which people concern themselves with the needs of others and take action to bring the collective resources of society together to meet those needs.

“Our goal is to inspire quality lives for the children who we serve and these two Respite Centres will do just that,” he said.

The $2.7 Million Brisbane Centre currently under construction at Yeerongpilly got underway this year with the aid of the same benefactor’s initial commitment of $1.3 Million and will be completed by late 2014.

Live it, Love it! myGC is an online go-to for the Gold Coast. Along with our radio station 1029 Hot Tomato, we are at the heart of the GC community. While Hot Tomato is what you listen to on the Coast, myGC brings the Coast to life with breaking news, traffic and weather updates when you need them, sport, events, videos, photos, entertainment news and lifestyle content. We’re about the lifestyle we love here, and the people who live it.

myGC is the official Hot Tomato website and you’ll find all things Hot Tomato on myGC from live streaming and show info, to events and competitions.

myGC – the life & soul of the Gold Coast!
1029 Hot Tomato, playing the Gold Coast's Best Music!